Four ministers, 2 state ministers take oath as govt reshuffles cabinet for first time
The Cabinet Division issued a late-night gazette regarding the distribution of portfolios.
The government has reshuffled the cabinet, with four new ministers and two new state ministers taking the oath this evening (21 August), marking the first time the cabinet has been reshuffled since the BNP took office in February this year.
The new faces as ministers are BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan, who was elected from Narsingdi-2; Bandarban MP Saching Prue Jerry; Jamalpur-1 lawmaker Rashiduzzaman Millat, and Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman and Bhola-1 MP Andaleeve Rahman Partho.
Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln were sworn in as state ministers.
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President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered the oath to them at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban around 7:40pm, shortly after he had taken the oath himself as the head of the state. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani conducted the oath-taking ceremony.
The Cabinet Division issued a late-night gazette regarding the distribution of portfolios among the new and current ministers and state ministers.
Seasoned politician Moyeen Khan has been given charge of the local government ministry, which Mirza Fakhrul vacated before becoming president.
Moyeen had served as information minister from 2001 to 2002 during the Khaleda Zia-led government.
Saching Prue, the BNP's Executive Committee member and Bandarban district unit convenor, has been appointed as the Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs minister.
On 1 June, CHT Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan resigned from his post, citing health reasons, leaving the post of minister vacant.
Millat has been appointed as the civil aviation and tourism minister. He had been serving as the state minister for this portfolio since the government was formed.
The current minister, Afroza Khanom Rita, has been given charge of the food ministry.
BJP Chairman Partho has been appointed as the information and broadcasting minister, while current minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, according to sources, is set to become an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
On the other hand, Shamim Kaiser has been made the state minister for religious affairs.
Humaiun has been the state minister for foreign affairs (technocrat). Dr Khalilur Rahman and Shama Obaed are now performing duty as foreign minister and state minister for foreign affairs, respectively.
Humaiun is the BNP's joint secretary general for international affairs.
The BNP formed the government on 17 February after winning the 13th parliamentary election held on 12 February, with its Chairman Tarique Rahman sworn in as prime minister.
The cabinet had 50 members at the time, including 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, besides the prime minister.
Of the state ministers, Kayser Kamal was appointed as deputy speaker last March.
Alongside the ministers and state ministers, the prime minister also has 10 advisers.
Following the latest expansion, the cabinet, including the prime minister, now comprises 51 members.
